Chapter 60
Chapter 60
Realizing she could expect no help from Dylan, Erina resigned herself and listened.
“Um, so what favor is it…?”
“Erina, do you know… about herbs?”
“Herbs? I’m not as skilled as professional pharmacists, but I know a fair amount.”
Erina’s usual work involved gathering herbs and mushrooms, and she had enough interest to study them in her free time, so she was far more knowledgeable than the average person—though she wasn’t formally trained in pharmacology.
That answer seemed enough, because the princess smiled gently.
“Because of your help today, I feel I can trust you… so…”
“Yes?”
“Please… take this.”
The princess handed her a sealed letter. It bore the Empire’s official, ornate seal in the center.
Erina’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I… my breathing gets difficult if I talk for long… so I wrote it down in a letter instead. Please… read it.”
After barely finishing her sentence, the princess discreetly glanced around at the attendants to check their reactions.
No one’s expression visibly changed, but they all seemed curious about what was written in the letter.
‘Which one of them tried to destroy my incense stick?’
The princess’s gaze returned to Erina, and she coughed softly and patted her chest for added effect, like someone truly unwell.
Worried by the princess’s pale complexion, Erina carefully placed the letter and the gift into her bag. If they stayed outside any longer, she feared the princess’s health might worsen.
Just as she was about to suggest they leave, a familiar voice rang out loudly from afar.
“Ahhh! That feels better!”
Mitzu strode toward them with his long legs, his bright red hair shaking with every step.
Hearing his booming voice, the children quickly gathered around the table again.
“Mitzu! You’re shameless, shouting like that after just going to the bathroom!”
Resen pinched his nose in mock disgust.
“Hey! I washed my hands properly! I even sprayed some perfume! Look!”
“Ugh! Get away!”
Feeling wronged, Mitzu flailed his arms and charged playfully at the triplets. The children screamed and scattered like they were fleeing from a swamp monster.
Truly, they were energetic little dragons—embarrassingly so at times.
***
Later that night, after the exhausting outing, the children fell asleep much faster than usual.
After checking on the sleeping triplets, Erina quietly closed the door and slipped into an empty room nearby.
It was time to finally read the letter the princess had given her. She had put it off until late because she felt once she opened it, there would be no going back.
“I wonder what the favor is…”
Sitting at the desk, Erina held the envelope up to the light, hoping to glimpse the contents, but naturally, she saw nothing.
Could it be something dangerous? Maybe it’s something life-threatening, which is why she wrote it in a letter?
Her mind raced with all sorts of theories. At this rate, she’d worry all night and not get any sleep.
Determined, Erina squeezed her eyes shut and decisively broke the seal.
Ziiik—
The sound of the wax seal breaking echoed as Erina, who had been squeezing her eyes shut so tightly that wrinkles had formed on her eyelids, cautiously opened one eye.
[To Miss Erina,
Hello, I was so happy to meet you at the banquet.
Just thinking about seeing you again this afternoon makes my heart flutter pleasantly…]
The letter, which she’d agonized over opening, turned out to start with an utterly ordinary greeting.
Erina felt relieved for a moment, realizing she had worried for nothing, but that relief didn’t last long.
“Huh? Wh-what?!”
As she kept reading the letter sent by Princess Anna, large question marks kept popping out of Erina’s mouth. Even after re-reading the final lines several times, it was still full of puzzling statements.
“No way, no way…!”
Erina shook out the envelope and letter, half-expecting some kind of prank, but nothing else came out except the letter written in the princess’s own hand.
That meant the contents were completely serious…
“What—what on earth does she trust me with?!”
Jumping up from her seat, Erina yelled. Her chair clattered to the ground with a thud.
At that moment…
Knock, knock.
There was a knock at the door to Erina’s room.
“Wah!!”
Startled, Erina’s shoulders jumped. She froze for a moment, unable to respond, and then the knock came again.
“Y-yes!”
Erina hurried to the door and swung it open. Standing outside was Dylan, looking at her with worried eyes.
“Miss Erina? Is something wrong? I heard a loud noise as I was passing by. You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?”
“N-no, no! I’m fine! Nothing happened!”
“I’m glad to hear that. It’s late… you haven’t gone to bed yet, I see.”
Dylan’s gaze pointed out Erina’s casual outfit.
“Ah, yes. Are you heading to bed now too, Mr. Dylan?”
“Yes. I just finished my work.”
“You must have been busy today. Thank you for your hard work.”
Hearing Erina’s words, Dylan smiled warmly and said,
“You worked hard too, Miss Erina.”
Just as he turned to leave…
“Um! Mr. Dylan!”
Erina grabbed the hem of Dylan’s shirt. He turned back with a questioning look. Erina’s hand tightened its grip.
“I, um! Is it possible for me to join the children’s camping trip too?!”
“…Excuse me?”
“Ah, has the group already been decided?”
Erina had an urgent reason to join the camping trip—because Princess Anna had asked her to gather medicinal herbs!
And not just one or two herbs, but any that were effective for alleviating symptoms: everything from herbs for simple stomachaches to rare ones that could reverse nerve paralysis.
There were so many kinds that it was impossible to count. Common detoxifying plants like jewel herbs could be found easily in the forest behind Harrison’s estate, but some rare herbs only grew deep in secluded woods.
Joining the children’s camping trip was the easiest and most efficient way to find them.
“No, we haven’t finalized the group yet… but if you come, you’ll have to look after the kids without a break. Will you be okay with that?”
“I’m totally, completely, really okay! I’ve always, always wanted to try camping!!”
Not that she actually wanted to. Born and raised deep in the forest, Erina had never understood why people voluntarily suffered by camping outdoors.
But now, she had no choice but to throw herself into that very ‘suffering.’
When Dylan didn’t immediately respond, Erina nervously laughed and blinked exaggeratedly at him, a desperate attempt at a cute wink.
Unfortunately, Dylan misunderstood, thinking her eyes must be hurting from fatigue, and his expression turned concerned.
“I think what you really need is rest, Miss Erina.”
His real plan was to kick out those pesky dragon triplets, Mitzu, and Hael, and enjoy a peaceful rest alone with Erina.
Maybe even invite her to his nest if the timing was right. But unaware of Dylan’s hopes, Erina desperately clung to her plan.
Shaking her head fiercely, Erina said,
“No! I really, really want to go camping! Please let me go!!”
Only by doing this could she show the princess she was making an effort!
With no way of knowing Erina’s real motives, Dylan eventually had no choice but to agree to her earnest request.
“If you really want to, then you may join the camping trip with the kids. But in that case, I’ll have to accompany you.”
“Y-you too, Mr. Dylan?”
“Yes. Since you’re coming, I think it’s best I go along for safety reasons. Oh, and of course, to look after my nephews and niece too.”
By adding that last line, Dylan barely managed to maintain his image as a doting uncle.
